Conveying mechanism.



H. M. LANE.

CONVEYIING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED sEPT.22. 1917.

Patented May 21, 1918.

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CONVEYING MECHANISM.

APPHCATION FILED SEPT. 22' 191 I.

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CGNVEYING MECHANISM.

application filed September 22, 191?.

To all whom it may concern;

llTie it known that I, HENRY li l. LANE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Detroit, in-the county of Wayne and Estate of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to conveying mechanism, andit comprises a trolley frame and a ladle frame carried thereby and capable of being lowered to receive a ladle, and to facilitate pouring of the molten metal from the ladle into molds, and capable of being elevated above the heads of the workmen when in motion, the said mechanism comprising means for supporting a ladle and an operators cage, tilting means for the ladle and elevating and traversing means; all as hereinafter more fully set forth and as claimed. Various methods have been proposed for conveying molten metal about a foundry, but so far as they involve power actuated means they have generally proved unsatisfactory. In a satisfactory machine to eliminate d nger to workmen, it is necessary to provide something which can be lowered for the purpose of engaging and disengaging ladles and for pouring metal into molds; and means for rigidly holding ladles in position. The machine must be under positive control of the operator of the machine at all times.

In the present invention, it employ crane means adapted to travel upon an overhead rail or rails, the crane means comprising a trolley frame carrying propelling means and a ladle frame, capable of vertical movement with respect to the trolley frame, suit able means being provided for raising and lowering the ladle frame. The ladle frame has an operators cage arranged therein and is provided with means for rigidly holding a ladle, together with means for tilting the ladle to pour its contents. The travers- 'ing means, the elevating means, the ladle support, and the means for tilting the ladle are all operable from the cage, placing every part of the machine under the direct control of the operator and minimizing the pos sibility of injury to the workmen, the ladle frame being elevated above the heads of the workmen before moving from place to lace and being lowered for the purpose e on specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May a, rate.

Serial No. 192,755.

2 is an end view of the structure of F1 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a detail view of. the ladle supporting means and of lever mechanism for operating the same;

Fig. is a side elevation showing a slight modification of the structure of Fig. 1;

F1g. 6 is a detail fragmentary view at right angles to the showing of Fig. 5 of means for operating the ladle; and

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the manner of engaging the ladle by the supporting member.

The trolley frame A is provided with trolley wheels 1 mounted in hangers 2 carried by the ,frame and adapted to travel upon the overhead rail P). A motor 3 is carried upon the trolley frame and drives the machine through gears 4- applying power to one of the trolley wheels 1. i

A ladle frame C is suspended from the trolley frame A by ropcs or cables 5 which pass over pulleys 6 and are wound around the drums 7. The drums 7 are mounted upon the shaft 8 of the motor 9 which is mounted upon the trolley frame. The ladle frame C is provided with a cage 10 in which is arranged a seat 11. Controller handles 12 and 13 are arranged within the cage and these handles are connected to tubes or rods 14 and 15 which have sliding engagement with hollow shafts 16 and 17. The shafts '16 and 17 are, respectively, connected to controllers 18 and 19 carried by the trolley frame A, the controller 18 being connected with the motor 3 and controller 19 with motor 9 (not shown). The frame A is provided with depending guides 20 in which the frame C is adapted to move.

The ladle 21, used in connection with this machine, is provided with trunnions 22 and 23 for the purpose of engaging with the arms 24 which are pivotally eonnected'to' the ladle frame (3. Each of the arms 24 is provided with an opening through which the trunnions pass when the arms are in engagement with'the ladle. A lever 26 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 27 carried by the ladle frame and links 28 are connected to each endof the lever 26 and to the arms 24. A rod or lever 29 is connected to the lever 26 at one end, and at its opposite end to an operating lever 30 which is pivotally mounted upon the ladle frame and located within the operators cage.

One of the arms 24 is provided with a gear wheel 31 ,journaled in the opening and the gear wheel is adapted to receive the trunnion 23, the trunnion and gear wheel being keyed together. A small gear or pinion 32 is mounted upon a shaft 33 journaled in the arm 24 and meshes with the gear wheel 31. A shaft 34 is journaled in the frame of the cage and is provided with an operating wheel or handle 35 upon its inner end, the shafts 33 and 34 being connected by a flexible shaft 36 or equivalent mechanical means such as a universal joint (not shown).

The construction of the form shown in Figs. 5, 6 and. 7 is very similar to that previously described, but in this instance the arms 24 are provided with pins 36' traveling in curved slots 37. The arms are normally stationary at the lower end of the slot 37 and in position to engage the trunnions 22 and 23. The arms are provided with hooks 38 upon their ends for engaging the trunnions and the trunnion 23 carries a gear wheel 39 which meshes with a pinion or smaller gear wheel 40 mounted on a shaft 41 carried by one of the arms 24. The shaft 41 is journaled in an enlarged bearing 42 in the cage 10 and is provided with a handwheel 43. It may be advisable in some cases to have the tilting gears attached to the ladle and use a socket shaft to connect with the handwheel in the cage, but this is a detail of construction and does not require illustra- 45 tion.

The operation of the machine is as follows :-Power is supplied from the motor 3 which drives one of the wheelsl through the medium .of gears 4. The motor is controlled by the controller 18 which is regulated by the handle 12 in the operator s cage. This handle rotates shaft 14 which in turn ro-.

tates hollow shaft 16., When it is desired to pour molten metal into a mold or to disengage an empty ladle and engage a full one,

the ladle frame C is lowered through themedium of the handle 13. Rod 15 and the hollow shaft 17 operate the controller 19 which starts the motor 9 unwinding .the cables 5 from the pulleys 7. To raise the ladle frame. the motor is operated-in a reverse direction. The ladle frame is guided in its vertical movement by the guide rods 20.

The arms 24 engaging the ladle trunnions 6. 22 and 23 are released through the operation 26 and the links 28. When the arms 24 are in'engagement with the ladle trunnions 22 and 23, the ladle is rigidly held and pre-" vented from tipping by the gear wheel 31 which is keyed to the trunnion 23. When it is desired to pour the metal, the ladle may be readily tilted through the medium of-the gears 31 and 32 which are operated by movement of the handle 35 within the operators cage, rotating the shaft 33, 34 and 36. In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the controllers 18 and 19 are governed by the cords or ropes 44 to allow the machine to be moved from lace to place or to lower the ladle frame as the case may be. The arms 24 supported in the curved slots 37 normally engage the ladle trunnions and when it is desired to removethe ladle 21 the arms are moved out of engagement with trunnions 22 and 23 by an attendant. The bearing 42 is made enlarged to permit lateral movement of the shaft 41 when the arm 24 is disengaged from the ladle trunnion 23. It will be seen from the above description that I have provided a machine in which molten metal can be readily conveyed about a foundry over the heads of the workmen in a ladle rigidly s11 ported, and can be lowered at the will of t e operator to allow the metal to be poured intoa mold or to disengage an empty'ladle. A very important feature of the invention is the arran ement of parts whereby all concarried by the crane in fixed relation to t e ladle.

2. A ladle crane comprising a ladle, ladlesupporting means, an operators cage carried by the crane in fixed relation to the ladle supporting means, means for elevating the ladle supporting means and cage, and traversing means for the crane.

3. A ladle crane comprising a ladle, ladle supporting means, an operators cage carried by the crane in fixed relation to the ladle supporting means,.means for elevating the ladle supporting means and ca e, traversing means, and means for tilting t e ladle.

4. A foundry appliance comprising a ladle 1' having lateral supporting elements, pivoted means for engaging said supportin elements, an operators cage in fixed relation to the ladle engaging means, and means operable from the cage to control said pivoted engaging means.

5. A foundry appliance comprising a ladle having lateral supporting elements, pivoted means for engaging said supporting elements, elevating and traversing means, an operators cage in fixed relation to the ladle engaging means, and means operable from the cage to control said pivoted engaging means.

6. A ladle crane comprising a ladle, ladle supporting means, elevating and traversing means, an operators cage carried by the crane in fixed relation to the ladle-supporting means and means for independently controlling the elevating and traversing means."

7. A ladle crane comprising ladle supporting means, elevating and traversing means, an operators cage carried by the crane in fixed relation to the ladle-supporting means,

means operable from the cage for tilting the ladle, and means for independently controlling the elevating and traversing means.

8. A ladle crane comprising a trolley frame, a ladle frame, means for elevating the ladle frame in the trolley frame ladle supporting means carried by the ladle frame, and an operators cage Within the saidladle frame and in fixed relation with said ladle supporting means.

9. A ladle crane comprising a trolley frame, a ladle frame, means for elevating the ladle frame the trolley frame, ladle supporting means carried by the ladle frame, means for tilting the ladle, and an operators cage fivithin said ladle frame and in fixed relation with said ladle supporting means.

10. A ladle: crane "comprisin a trolley frame, a ladle frame, means for e evating the ladle frame in the trolley frame, ladle sup- I porting means carried by the ladle frame, an

operators cage within said ladle frame and ii fixed relation with said ladle supporting means, and means operable from the cage for tiltingthe ladle.

11. A ladle 'crane comprising a trolley frame, a ladle frame,.,means carried by the ladle frame for supporting the ladle, an operators cage Within the ladle frame and in fixed relation to the ladle supporting means, and means operable from the cage for elevating the ladle frame.

12. A foundry appliance comprising a ladle and a frame, elevating and traversing means therefor, an operators cage Within the frame, pivoted arms for engaging the ladle, and an operating lever pivoted in the cage and connected to the pivoted arms.

In testimony whereof, ll affix my signature hereto.

HENRY M. LANE. 

